Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-05
MGARlGLE'S ESCAPE,
HOW THE CHICAGO BOOOlER
ELUOED THE OFFICERS.
Its story Told by two Lake Captains and
the BoodIer Himself-Ue Protests his
Innocence and Says that lie will
Return to chicago.

CHICAGO, Aug. IA despatch from
Port Huron, Mich, gives another account
of McGarigle's landing in Canada. 1t APP
years that when the tug Orient approach
ed the schooner Blake, which was last in
the tow of four vessels, the schooner
Marsh, next ahead, dropped the tow line
and the Blake dropped rapidly astern.
Her captain rushed forward with his crew
and raised a row for a couple of minutes,
keeping the attention of those on board
the tug. Meanwhile McGarlgle, who had
been transferred to the Marsh in the
straits. was bundled into a yawl and be-
ing sculled ashore When the officers on
the tug discovered the ruse an effort was
made to catch the yawl, but it got into
shoal waters safely before they could
reach it, McGarigle jumped ashore and
ran rapidly up the street, while the crew
of the schooner jeered at the men on the
tug. A reporter went aboard the schooner
Marsh, whose captain Freer, told the fol-
lowing story: While we were loading
cargo of cedar in the straits a
know if | had seen anything of the
Blake. | said | had not, and he then told
me they were detectives and that they be-
lieved McGarigle was aboard of the Blake.
Well, live in Chicago, and of course
knew McGarigle by reputation, although /
had never seen him but once. told the
men he would probably come along in Il
day or two and then extended them the
hospitality of my vessel. The entire
crowd came aboard, went down into the
cabin and l opened a bottle of my choicest
cherry brandy. While they were drink
ing slipped on deck for minute and
saw the Blake coming along down the
straits before fine breeze. Well, don't
believe in harboring criminals or anything
of that kind but on the impulse of the
moment | thought there was a fellow
being, with a wife and several children,
who was sorry for what wrong he had
done and was trying to keep out of the
penitentiary. | hardly know what made
me do it, but | slipped back into the cabin
and without saying anything about the
approaching vessel got out some more
bottles The detectives had rOllicking
time of it, But by this time the Blake
was out of sight About 10 o'clock Satur-
day night overhauled the Blake on Lake
Huron and told them that officers were
laying for her. | recognized a man rs
McGarigle, who with tears running down
his face asked me TO put him ashore. |
told him | would and did.
While Capt. Freer was telling this story
the tow had rounded to, and was picking
up the Blake, which had come down the
river under sail. As she came along side
of the Marsh the reporter jumped aboard
of her and asked Captain Irwin to give
some account of how he came to enter the
conspiracy to run McGarigle iuto.Canada.
He came to me and asked me if | would
would take passenger to Canada, land
ing him at the first convenient point. AT
ter some hesitation on my part,
/ consented, providing that he
the party. Well, l was to let him
know when | was ready to sail, and Sat
urday afternoon | met him in buggy on
Fifth avenue, and arranged with him to
have his friend meet me that night at the
cigar store at the corner of Rush and
Michigan streets. A little after 10 O'Clock
man whom | recognized by the descrip
ton given me came and | asked him If his
name was Williams. He nodded his head
and we went down to the vessel Then
we tOwed out and got along ali right,
Capt Irwin confirmed tbs story of the
master of the schooner Higgie as to meet
the Blake off Manistee. lie spoke guard
edly, but he let out enough to strengthen
the suspicion that DR.. st. John and JAM
tor Dem knew more about the escape of
McGarigle than any one in Chicago.
The reporter then went back to Sarnla,
and after considerable search found Nc
Carlyle, who appeared terribly changed.
His features are haggard and sallow and
his eyes have hunted expression. Il am
worn out with worry and excitement" he
said, land it would be simply torture for
me to comply to the extent you desire. ]
am sick, and need rest so badly that |
must ask you to wait until tomorrow,
Say for me- however, that | viii. be back
to Chicago in less than three months, and
when / come | will not be bounded as a
rascally thief. This investigation that
is now being held will develop my
innocence of any corrupt act, and will
convince the people of Chicago that
in spite of all the 'squealing' that is being
made in court, | am not implicated in any
crooked transactions. The worst that can
be said of me is that had money given
to me by contractors to give the county
commissioners. Not cent of it stuck to
my fingers. l am poor man to-day"
He said he planned the escape himself
and regrets that he was obliged to i'm
pose on the generosity of Sheriff Matson
in the way he did. "If ! staid in jail
said he, "it was certain that | would have
spell of typhoid fever. My system could
not stand that and it became imperative
for me to get out. An opportunity for es-
cape presented itself, and embraced it. y